It is estimated that many tumors start around the age of 20. However, detection of cancer is normally around the age of 50 or later. Thus, it takes cancer decades to incubate. Why does it take so long? Recent studies indicate that in any given type of cancer, hundreds of different genes must be modified to change a normal cell into a cancer cell. Although cancers are characterized by the dysregulation of cell signaling pathways at multiple steps, most current anticancer therapies involve the modulation of a single target. Chemotherapy has gotten incredibly specific, but the ineffectiveness, lack of safety, and high cost of these monotargeted therapies has led to real disappointment, and drug companies are now trying to develop chemo drugs that take a multitargeted approach.

Many plant-based products, however, accomplish multitargeting naturally and are inexpensive and safe compared to drugs. However, because drug companies are not usually able to secure intellectual property rights to plants, the development of plant-based anticancer therapies has not been prioritized. They may work (and work better for all we know), and they may be safer, or even fully risk free.

If we were going to choose one plant-based product to start testing, we might choose curcumin, the pigment in the spice turmeric (the reason curry powder looks yellow). Before we start throwing money at research, we might want to ask some basic questions, like “Do populations that eat a lot of turmeric have lower cancer rates?” The incidence of cancer does appear to be significantly lower in regions where turmeric is heavily consumed. Population-based data indicate that some extremely common cancers in the Western world are much less prevalent in regions where turmeric is widely consumed in the diet.

For example, “overall cancer rates are much lower in India than in western countries.” U.S. men get 23 times more prostate cancer than men in India. Americans get between 8 and 14 times the rate of melanoma, 10 to 11 times more colorectal cancer, 9 times more endometrial cancer, 7 to 17 times more lung cancer, 7 to 8 times more bladder cancer, 5 times more breast cancer, and 9 to 12 times more kidney cancer. This is not mere 5, 10, or 20 percent more, but 5, 10, or 20 times more. Hundreds of percent more breast cancer, thousands of percent more prostate cancer—differences even greater than some of those found in the China Study.

The researchers in this study, highlighted in my video Back to Our Roots: Curry and Cancer, conclude: “Because Indians account for one-sixth of the world’s population, and have some of the highest spice consumption in the world, epidemiological studies in this country have great potential for improving our understanding of the relationship between diet and cancer. The lower rates of cancer may, of course, not be due to higher spice intake. Several dietary factors may contribute to the low overall rate of cancer in India. Among them are a “relatively low intake of meat and a mostly plant-based diet, in addition to the high intake of spices.” Forty percent of Indians are vegetarians, and even the ones that do eat meat don’t eat a lot. And it’s not only what they don’t eat, but what they do. India is one of the largest producers and consumers of fresh fruits and vegetables, and Indians eat a lot of pulses (legumes), such as beans, chickpeas, and lentils. They also eat a wide variety of spices in addition to turmeric that constitute, by weight, the most antioxidant-packed class of foods in the world.

Population studies can’t prove a correlation between dietary turmeric and decreased cancer risk, but they can certainly inspire a bunch of research. So far, curcumin has been tested against a variety of human cancers, including colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast, prostate, multiple myeloma, lung cancer, and head and neck cancer, for both prevention and treatment. For more information on turmeric and curcumin, check out Carcinogen Blocking Effects of Turmeric Curcumin and Turmeric Curcumin Reprogramming Cancer Cell Death.

I’m working on another dozen or so videos on this amazing spice. This is what I have so far:

Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM, is a physician, New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognized professional speaker on a number of important public health issues. Dr. Greger has lectured at the Conference on World Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, and the International Bird Flu Summit, testified before Congress, appeared on The Dr. Oz Show and The Colbert Report, and was invited as an expert witness in defense of Oprah Winfrey at the infamous “meat defamation” trial.

“Our vegetarian ancestors knew it all along. Plant-based foods are the best. In fact, 98 percent of those who live long, healthy and dementia-free lives are vegans.”

So you’ve become a regular at the gym, turned vegan, and done almost everything in your power to stay physically healthy. What about staying mentally fit as well? Mental health is just as important as physical health. Mental fitness protects us from depression, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases.

Neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Mosconi, director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medical College, New York claims we can prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia through healthier food and lifestyle choices. In her new book Brain Food: How to Eat Smart and Sharpen your Mind, Mosconi says that while genetics plays a key role in causing dementia, lifestyle factors, like diet, are just as crucial.

Know how your nutrients interact — Nutrients in your body should interact withe each other. Make sure you get a balance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and vitamin B.

Have plant-based meals — Our vegetarian ancestors knew it all along. Plant-based foods are the best. In fact, 98 percent of those who live long, healthy and dementia-free lives are vegans.

Choose organic food well — You can also save on costs by choosing fruits that are in season. You can also opt for wild fish over the farmed variety, since the former tends to have less pollutants and pesticides.

Always eat breakfast — Breakfast is indeed the most important meal of the day, because the brain needs an energy source in the morning. This means fresh fruit, whole grains, and lean protein.

Go for red wine — Because it is rich in the antioxidant resveratrol, red wine protects our brains and helps us live longer. Mosconi advises women to take a small glass of wine a day for brain health. Organic pomegranate juice, grape juice, and prune juice are good substitutes.

Try fasting overnight — Research shows that cutting down on calories enhances cognitive capacity and help you lives longer. Brain cells grow stronger when hungry, so skip that midnight snack and try overnight fasting. This means taking a 12-to-16-hour break from food between dinner and breakfast.

Take a cue from ‘blue zones’ — These are regions around the world with the highest number of centenarians. Indians, who consume brain-protective food like spice turmeric, are not as prone to Alzheimer’s than Americans are. The latter are eight times more prone to the disease than their Indian counterparts. People living in Mediterranean countries also live longer because of a diet rich in wild greens like dandelions, legumes, beans and potato, fish and olive oil and an occasional cheese and red wine.

Stick to traditional cookware — Mosconi suggests stainless steel, glass and ceramic, not aluminium, plastics, and synthetic cookware with Teflon surfaces since they may have a compound (polytetrafluoroethylene) that can endanger brain health.

Take time to sleep — Studies show that adults who slept less than five hours a night showed higher levels of Alzheimer’s plaques in the brain than those who slept more than seven hours. Sleep gives the brain time to clear toxins and flush waste products away.

Keep a glass of water by your bed — Drinking eight to ten cups of water a day can boost brain performance by 30 percent. A glass of water when you wake up makes you feel more awake and able to think better.

A teaspoon of turmeric a day keeps inflammation, toxins, pain, and cancers at bay.

In India, turmeric has been used and crowned the “Queen of all Spices” for over 2500 years. Although it was first used as a dye, over the centuries its true healing powers slowly came to light.

Long known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and detoxing properties, recent studies reveal how this natural wonder can treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cancer, too.

Here are 7 proven ways on how turmeric can improve your health and happiness. I’m sure that after reading this article you will start adding this miracle spice to your diet every day.

1. Fights inflammation naturally

Chronic inflammation is believed to be the culprit of many of our modern diseases. Curcumin, or turmeric’s active compound, is found to be a potent anti-inflammatory compound which matches or even exceeds the effectiveness of many anti-inflammatory drugs available. (1)

2. Protects your brain

Cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s are often linked to decreased levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which is a type of growth hormone. Researchers have found that curcumin positively influences the levels of BDNF and may delay or even reverse many brain diseases or age-related decline of our brain functions. (2)

3. Reduces the risk of several types of cancer

Turmeric may be one of the most potent natural anti-cancer substances out there. Not only can it prevent cancer growth, but inhibits the development and spread as well and may even hold the natural cure for this dreadful disease. (3)

4. Improves digestion

Eating turmeric on a daily basis stimulates the gallbladder, reduces bloating and gas, and prevents inflammation of the digestive tract. However, when suffering from a gallbladder disease, turmeric should not be taken on a daily basis to avoid overstimulation, which can make things worse. (4)

5. Protect your heart

6. Soothes symptoms of Arthritis

Although more research is needed in this field, many people report various improvements of their condition. It helps them fight chronic inflammation and reduces the pain too. Some even claim curcumin supplements work better than many OTC or prescribed drugs available on the market today. And without any side-effects. (6)

7. Delays aging and improves longevity

Free radicals and inflammation are believed to play a major role in aging and curcumin affects both. And given that it also protects our heart and fights cancer, which are 2 of the biggest killers in today’s world, it obviously benefits longevity too. (7)

These benefits are only the tip of the iceberg of what turmeric can do for you.

FYI: curcumin, or turmeric’s most active and healing compound, is poorly absorbed by our body. Luckily there are a few ways to up the absorption by up to 2000 percent. Adding a pinch of black pepper is one of them. Click here to discover 3 more ways to up curcumin’s absorption to make sure you get the full benefits of adding turmeric to your daily diet.

Amy is a life and food lover, certified biologist, and holistic health coach. She is the founder of the healthy lifestyle website and creator of the online program, . After successfully changing her family’s health and happiness, she’s on a mission to help other people achieve the life and body they want.

(NaturalNews) You’ve probably already heard about some of the amazing health benefits of turmeric, and seen the proliferation of turmeric-containing products at health food stores and websites. But to get the health benefits of this remarkable root, you need to be sure you are taking the right dose, in the right way.

Turmeric, a root that is ground up into the spice that gives curry powder its characteristic yellow color, has a long history of use as an herbal medicine. It can help prevent heart attack and stroke by lowering blood pressure, thinning the blood and preventing clotting, and lowering levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol while boosting levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol. It also lowers blood sugar and functions as an anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antimicrobial. It can be used to treat jaundice and as a poultice for skin conditions and wounds.

Recently, scientists have begun examining the properties of a group of chemicals known as curcuminoids (or simply “curcumin”), which are believed to be responsible for many of turmeric’s health properties. Studies have shown that curcumin benefits not only your heart but also your immune system. It also boosts cognitive capacity and can prevent or perhaps even reverse cancer.

Take it right to get the benefits!

According to the health website Healthy Holistic Living, a good daily health maintenance dose for adults is up to 1.5 grams, which is about the same as a slightly rounded teaspoon. This can also be split up and taken in two to three smaller doses throughout the day.

For treating specific health conditions, the “therapeutic” adult dose is 2–3 grams. Therapeutic doses should not be used in children under two. Children over two and adults over 65 should start with a dose on the lower end.

The effectiveness of turmeric can be boosted as much as 2,000 percent by mixing it with a little black pepper (perhaps 1/8 teaspoon).

Critically, curcumin is fat-soluble, so turmeric should always be consumed along with some form of fat to aid in absorption. It can simply be mixed with two teaspoons of oil and eaten or mixed into food such as yogurt. It can also be mixed into a fat-containing beverage such as milk. If taken on an empty stomach, it can cause some nausea.

Curcumin capsules are also available, but it is unlikely that the full benefits of turmeric can be obtained from consuming any one chemical in isolation, however potent that chemical might be in the laboratory.

Remember that spices sold in the grocery store are typically irradiated, and were grown with toxic chemicals. For medicinal use, be sure to find a reliable source of organic, non-irradiated turmeric.

Be aware of risks

It is important to follow certain safety practices if taking turmeric or any natural medicine at a therapeutic dose. First of all, remember that therapeutic doses are intended for short-term use only. Consult a health practitioner such as an herbalist, Ayurvedic practitioner or traditional Chinese medicine provider for guidance.

At the therapeutic dose, turmeric should not be mixed with certain other medications or herbs. Because it has many of the same effects, therapeutic-dose turmeric should not be taken along with blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol or blood thinning pharmaceutical drugs or herbs, including aspirin. It should not be mixed with moderate or high doses of garlic or Gingko biloba, which are also blood thinners. Therapeutic turmeric doses should be halted at least one week prior to any surgery.

Turmeric can increase bile production, so therapeutic doses should be avoided by people with gall bladder problems. People with hypoglycemia should also avoid it. Because therapeutic-dose turmeric can stimulate uterine contractions, it should be avoided in pregnancy except under the guidance of a trained health practitioner.

(Natural News) After undergoing three rounds of chemotherapy and four stem cell transplants and still finding herself sick and weak, blood cancer patient, Dieneke Ferguson, believed she reached the end of her tether. She was told she had exhausted all her options. “Nothing worked: there was just too much cancer….there was nothing else I could do,” she recalled in an interview with The Daily Mail. Ferguson, though, refused to accept the “inevitable” and turned towards an alternative treatment: curcumin. The polyphenol, which is the main compound of turmeric, is what has been keeping her alive and well for the last five years, she says. Her extraordinary story will be featured in an upcoming study in the British Medical Journal.

The North London resident was first diagnosed with myeloma in 2007. This is a form of blood cancer where plasma cells become abnormal and release a type of antibody called paraprotein which has no known useful function. Unlike most cancers, myeloma does not form a tumor. Myeloma accounts for only two percent of all recorded cancer cases, and is one of the least understood variety. It remains incurable, with diagnosed patients told they have a life expectancy of only five years — if they’re lucky. Patients with myeloma are typically prescribed several rounds of chemotherapy along with invasive treatments to stabilize blood levels. But while Ferguson followed these treatment plans obediently, she saw no results. At a loss, she decided to start a new treatment after an internet support group told her to try curcumin.

“I had nothing to lose,” she said.

Ferguson began taking eight grams of curcumin in tablet form daily. This is equivalent to about two teaspoonfuls of pure powdered curcumin. Within only 15 months, Ferguson noticed a considerable difference in her overall health. It wasn’t just a feeling either; oncologists saw that her plasma blood levels were almost normal. These blood counts have remained within the normal range for the last five years.

Jamie Cavenagh, professor of blood diseases at London’s Barts Hospital, who reviewed Ferguson’s case, was bemused. “When you review her chart, there’s no alternative explanation [for her recovery] other than we’re seeing a response to curcumin,” he said.

Ferguson said she will continue to take her supplements. She reports herself as happy, healthy, and enjoying a “high-quality life.”

Curcumin as a natural cancer treatment

This may come as a surprise but: food heals. Ferguson’s story is quite inspiring, but it isn’t something we haven’t heard of before. Several stories of the healing properties of various herbs and spices have reached our ears for some time now. Unfortunately, we have nothing to really back it up, as medical studies regarding alternative treatments to cancer remain lacking. There are several factors involved here, but one reason is that there simply isn’t any return of investment in studying natural herbs. As mentioned in the same Daily Mail article, “[studies that involve natural and alternative treatments] cost millions, and the investments could never be repaid as there is no money to be made from sales of a natural compound that cannot be patented.”

Still, there is enough data to suggest a very “real” effect of curcumin in cancer therapy. The compound has been studied to reduce the symptoms of cardiovascular conditions, depression, and dementia. Health experts say that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of curcumin can help fight off almost all forms of cancer. These assumptions though remain to be verified as funding for such types of research will probably never be received. Stay up to date on breaking news about turmeric and curcumin at Turmeric.news.

NaturalNews.com

(Natural News) A common kitchen staple has saved the life of a 57-old woman who had been battling blood cancer for five years. After undergoing three rounds of chemotherapy and four stem cell transplants to treat myeloma, Dieneke Ferguson thought she had exhausted all her options.

Myeloma develops when the white blood cells produced in the bone marrow start to multiply uncontrollably. When this happens, the body stops producing the normal antibodies needed to fight infection, resulting in bone damage, intense pain, fatigue, and nerve damage. Usually, people who develop the disease do not live beyond five years of diagnosis.

Speaking to the Daily Mail Online, Ferguson, who lives in North London and runs Hidden Art, a not-for-profit business helping artists market their work, explained that she had been on all sorts of toxic drugs with terrifying side-effects. At some point these toxic substances made her lose her memory for three days and two vertebrae in her spine collapsed so she couldn’t walk. Despite everything she tried, the cancer seemed unstoppable.

As conventional cancer treatments let her down, she thought she was losing the battle. As a last resort, Ferguson turned to a natural product called curcumin. Curcumin is the yellow pigment extracted from turmeric, the healing spice known used in Indian curries and golden milk.

How a kitchen staple changed this woman’s life

Since she had nothing to lose and learned about curcumin’s cancer-fighting properties via an internet support group, she decided to try this ancient remedy. Since turmeric only contains two percent of the cancer-fighting compound curcumin, Ferguson started taking eight grams of concentrated curcumin in tablet form daily.

“I told my oncologist I was taking it and he was very interested, especially when it apparently made such a difference,” said Ferguson.

Where all other conventional treatments failed, curcumin supplements had a tremendous effect. After five years of taking the curcumin tablets, Ferguson’s cancer cell count is negligible.

Many studies have shown curcumin’s ability to stop cancer in its tracks, inhibiting cancer cell growth and triggering programmed cell death. Over 2,000 scientific studies have displayed curcumin’s ability to combat cancers of the breast, prostate, liver, colon, lung, pancreas, and more. Though curcumin’s powerful anticancer properties have been known for ages, the medical world and mainstream media remained silent until now.

“When you review her chart, there’s no alternative explanation [for her recovery] other than we’re seeing a response to curcumin,” said Jamie Cavenagh, professor of blood diseases at London’s Barts Hospital and co-author of the report.

The cancer-fighting properties of curcumin are real

Ferguson is convinced curcumin could help other people battling cancer. The problem, however, is that the medical world cannot recommend it, she noted. In eastern medicine curcumin has been used for centuries, not only to combat cancer but also in the successful treatment of a host of illnesses, including heart disease, infection, depression, and dementia.

“Curcumin is a strong anti-inflammatory agent and chronic inflammation is the precursor of 99 per cent of all cancers,” explained Angus Dalgleish, a professor of cancer at St George’s Hospital in South London

Before it can be widely prescribed by doctors, it must be tested in large-scale trials. Sadly, nobody is willing to take up the challenge since these trials cost millions of dollars. An investment that could never be repaid as there is no big money to be made from sales of a natural compound that cannot be patented, the Daily Mail Online reported.

Julie Ryan, a cancer specialist at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, told the journal Nature that the biological activity of curcumin is real. She believes that chemically modified forms may be even more effective at reaching certain tissues.

Not only is turmeric anti-inflammatory and an anti-coagulant, studies have shown it benefits arthritis, cancer, heartburn, and depression.

Credit: HealthInformative.net

Feeling down? Before you reach for a prescription drug to help remedy your depression, consider making this anti-inflammatory turmeric drink that is side effect-free and tastes delicious.

In case you didn’t know, turmeric is incredibly medicinal. Research has shown that not only is the root an anticoagulant (slows and prevents blood clotting) and an anti-inflammatory, it aids cancer treatment and is an anti-depressant, due to curcumin which studies have shown is more effective than fluoxetine which Prozac contains. Research has also concluded that turmeric can benefit conditions such as skin cancer, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, heartburn, jaundice, diarrhea, and gallbladder and stomach pain.

Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to take advantage of Mother Nature’s cures. And, it is for this reason True Activist is sharing the following Turmeric Lemonade recipe. Set some time aside to make this medicinal drink and sip on it during the day for best results.

Credit: The Whole Journey

Turmeric Lemonade

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Serving Size: 3-4

Ingredients:

4 cups cold filtered water

2 Tbsp freshly grated or powdered turmeric

5 Tbsp 100% maple syrup or raw honey

Juice of 1 1/2 lemons

Dash of cinnamon

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a pitcher and stir until well-combined.

Enjoy!

Not only is this recipe economical to make, it is delicious and packs a powerful punch.